Cyclists will be able to use the trails, whereas cycling is prohibited along the High Line

As the design process for the Bloomingdale Trail and Park nears completion, several important details distinguish Chicago’s new elevated park from the High Line. Whereas cycling is not permitted in the New York park, Chicago is specifically creating a green corridor that will allow walkers and cyclists to reach six major anchor points throughout the city. And if that is successful, an additional trail will be extended to the Chicago River and Kennedy Expressway, which will make a series of ritzy lakeside neighborhoods more accessible as well.

A $91 million project that is completely community driven, Arch Daily notes, the Bloomingdale Trail and Park is eligible for $39 million in Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement funds. The remaining funds have yet to be sourced, but the Mayor’s office announced that the project will break ground in either late spring or early summer this year. Slated to initially link Bucktown, Wicker Park, Logan Square, and Humboldt Park, the new urban park will hopefully get the good people of Chicago outside enjoying nature again!

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georgeblommeApril 8, 2013 at 11:41 am

I lived near the Bloomingdale viaduct in the 1950\’s and climbed up to the tracks many times. It was an odd narrow viaduct, with 2 tracks, and apparently only one train in the evening – and I never even saw that train. Its a massive embankment which split the neighborhood in half. I wondered what could be done with it, short of tearing it down. I\’m happy to read some 60 years later that it will be turned into a park. If it can match NYC\’s High Line in beauty and quirkiness, it will be a huge success.

msyinApril 4, 2013 at 3:20 pm

This will be another great place to visit when I finally get to Chicago. Hope other mayors are looking at these projects for their cities.